For Healthcare Providers

Dairy Consumption and Risk of Frailty in Older Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study

A. Lana, F. Rodriguez-Artalejo and E. Lopez-Garcia

J Am Geriatr Soc. 2015;63(9):1852-60

Some studies have found positive effects of dairy consumption in older people, but the evidence base for this recommendation remains scarce. This study aimed to examining the association between consumption of dairy products and risk of frailty in community-dwelling older adults. Data obtained shown that higher consumption of low-fat milk and yogurt are associated with lower risk of frailty and, specifically, lower risk of slow walking speed and weight loss.

Sarco-Osteoporosis: Prevalence and Association with Frailty in Chinese Community-Dwelling OlderAdults

Y.J. Wang, Y. Wang, J.K. Zhan, et al.

Int J Endocrinol. 2015;2015:482940

The study aimed to apply Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) proposed criteria to estimate the prevalence of sarco-osteoporosis and investigate its relationship with frailty, in a sample of 316 community-dwelling Chinese older people. The results indicate that patients with sarco-osteoporosis are more likely to be ≧ 80 years with higher burden of comorbidities and to have frailty/prefrailty, especially women.

Energetics of Aging and Frailty: The FRADEA Study

P. Abizanda, L. Romero, P.M. Sánchez-Jurado, et al.

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2016;71(6):787-96

Resting metabolic rate (RMR) and total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) decrease with aging, but it is not known whether frailty modulates this association. Authors hypothesize that RMR and TDEE values are similar between younger and older nonfrail adults, whereas they are lower in older prefrail and frail compared with younger adults. This study shows that frailty status modulates the energy requirements of aging. Frail and prefrail older adults present lower eRMR than nonfrail adults.

Predictive validity of a two-step tool to map frailty in primary care

J.A.L. van Kempen, H.J. Schers, I. Philp, et al.

BMC Medicine 2015;13:287

EASY-Care Two step Older people Screening (EASY-Care TOS) is a stepped approach to identify frail older people at risk for negative health outcomes in primary care, and makes use of General Practitioners’ (GPs) readily-available information. This study aimed to determine the predictive value of EASY-Care TOS for negative health outcomes within the year from assessment. GPs applying the EASY-Care TOS procedure, where they only perform additional assessment when they judge this as necessary, can efficiently predict negative health outcomes in their older populations. Moreover, this evaluation is almost as accurate as a complete specialist comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA).

Effects of physical exercise interventions in frail older adults: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

C. de Labra, C. Guimaraes-Pinheiro, A. Maseda, et al.

BMC Geriatrics. 2015;15:154

Physical exercise has demonstrated its beneficial effects in reducing the risk of many adverse outcomes, such as frailty. The major goal of this systematic review of randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) was to investigate the benefits of exercise programs in frail elderly people, considering only those studies where frailty had been defined. This systematic review suggested that frail older adults seemed to benefit from exercise interventions, although the optimal program remains unclear.

Association of habitual dietary resveratrol exposure with the development of frailty in older age: the Invecchiare in Chianti study

M. Rabassa, R. Zamora-Ros, M. Urpi-Sarda, et al.

Am J Clin Nutr 2015;102:1534–42

Resveratrol may play a protective role against the frailty syndrome (FS) because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study has prospectively evaluated the association between habitual dietary resveratrol exposure and the development of FS after 3-, 6-, and 9-years follow-up periods in a community-dwelling older population. This study has shown that higher habitual dietary resveratrol exposure was associated with lower risk of older community dwellers developing FS during the first 3 years of follow-up but not after longer follow-up periods.

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